Mideast defies easy answers

There is no easy answer to the Middle East conflict. Mr. Kraft (in defense of Palestinians) attempts to equate Israel with racism. Israel is in practice a democratic secular state that is religiously and racially pluralistic with legal protection and freedom of religion for all. That cannot be said for any other country in the entire Middle East.

But for Mr. Dolina (Israel is a rogue nation) to claim that Israel violates international law by building a terrorist security wall (which dramatically reduced the suicide bomb attacks) or that if we were in the same hopeless predicament as the Palestinians we would act no differently, is absurd. The Palestinians have made it clear that they prefer indiscriminate terror against innocent Israeli civilians to real peace. They have rejected every offer for a permanent peace plan and chance for an independent country. They will not even recognize Israel’s right to exist.

As continues to be stated in the Palestinian Charter, they will accept nothing less than the total destruction of the state of Israel. I agree that justice must be sought for all parties. But how is that ever accomplished when the Palestinian view of the future is Israel’s absolute annihilation?

Larry J. Kuznetz

Spokane